Dalton school De Klipper has been a Techport school since 2019. The school combines thematic learning with 'group-based' teaching. Instead of traditional classrooms and classroom teaching in large groups, teachers create vibrant learning environments. So that children of different ages and groups work together and learn from each other.
Thematic learning makes every lesson engaging
Director Madelon Boot: "Whether exploring the universe, discovering nature or researching historical events, the thematic approach makes every lesson engaging and relevant. This also applies to the technology lessons that our 'teacher' Sharon Wilmink links to the themes. This allows us to really provide a broad learning context. The technology classroom is not just about learning technical skills. Miss Sharon also provides peace, space and a listening ear for pupils who need it."
'Cool spot' in engineering classroom
Sharon Wilmink: "Giving confidence, being there for pupils and letting them know that they are allowed to be who they are. Not just when things are not going so well, but also when they are doing well. They can come to me for that too in the technology classroom. We have set up a special place in the classroom for this, which we call the 'cool place'. By not putting the focus on learning technical skills, you see that students start to see engineering as something positive much more often. That fits well with our motto: you can do more than you think."
Keep developing, moving and being agile
As a school, De Klipper is always on the move, continuing to develop and wanting to be agile. Director Boot: "Since 2018, we have been a Dalt education school. This form of education encourages freedom, responsibility, independence, effectiveness, cooperation and reflection. In 2023, neighbouring school De Vuurtoren merged with us. The activity centre, the toddler centre and BSO De Schipper have also recently become part of our Kindcentrum in the making."
Making choices as a school
Headmaster Boot continues: "Being agile as a school also means daring to make choices. We have to keep asking ourselves: 'what is education?' As far as we are concerned, teaching technical skills is definitely part of that. We also make regular trips to companies, information centres or museums that add a valuable dimension to the topic at hand. The same applies to the assignments pupils complete in the technology classroom. With this, we inspire pupils much more to embrace their curiosity and creativity."
Boot: "We regularly get feedback from parents that the children at The Clipper are so independent and well able to indicate what they still have to learn. We get what we can out of every child and we are proud of that!"